Speed-indicator.



C. SPRATT L F. J. SHENTON.

SPEED INDICATOR.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1909. 955,709. Patented Apr.\19, 1910.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

v vll//l//f Y G. SPRATT & F. J. SHENTDN.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. s, 1909.

955,709, Patented A111219, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i i ing parts, than has heretofore been done.

. spring.

UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT oEEIoE.N

CHARLES SPRATT, OF NEW CROSS, AND FRANCIS JAMES SIIEN'LON, 0F THORNTONHEATH, ENGLAND.

SPEED-INDICATOR.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application filed March 8, 1909.` Serial No. 482,100.

England, electrical engineer, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Speed-Indicators, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to speed indicators especially adapted for use inconnection with motor cycles, motor cars,and machinery in general.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, andsensitive as w'ell as positive in action.

A still further object of the invention is to provide lan operatingmeans for an indicator which will materially lessen the friction, andconsequently the wear on the work- With these and other objects in view,the invention consists in the construction and novel combination ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and i ointed out in the claims hereto appende it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minordetails of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resortedto without departinoP from the s irit or sacrificing any of theadvantages o the invention.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a front ele.- vation of the device. F ig` 2is a vertical sectional View through the saine, showing some of theparts in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top 'plan view of the centrifugalregulator.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a modified form of the sprin and Fig. 5 isa plan view showing the preferable 'construction ofthe Fig. 6 is adetail sectional view taken through the sleeves and the operating rod. li

The invention comprises a casing c, which is preferably tubular, andbent so that the opposite ends are arranged at right-angles j to eachother. Arranged within and closing one end of the said casing is an endcap c1,`

j havin having an inwardly extending circumferential flange c2, whichbears against the casing and is retained inthat position by means cfset-screws c3, or other suitable fastening means. The end cap c1 isprovided wi h a central depending and integral sleeve c4 employed for apurpose hereinafter describe The invention further comprises a cover t,

which is provided. with 'a circumferential A flange t2. This ange isreferably cut-out around its out-er edge to orm a seat, which is adaptedto be positioned upon the oircumferential flange c2 of the 'end' cap 01and thereby form a closed receptacle:` The cover is furthermore iprovided with fa. 'c'en- `tral opening `t3 which is in alinement withthe sleeve c4 of the end cap. Arrangedl t f within the ,said sleeve c4is a rod or sha which is connected to a rotary or ijexible shaft g1 orother transmission mechanism, said mechanism being adapted to f'receiveits motion from an rotating or moving part` of a machine. This -rodextends within the beforementioned receptacle for a short distance, andhas a reduced end fsf around which is secured a suitable bearing disk f1having a series of anti-friction ba s f2, or the like, arranged betweenit and the end cap c1. i v

The invention lwhich is provided with a central opening d1,

said disk bein spaced from the bearin disk f1 by -antiriction balls uand arranged above the same in such a manner that the reduced end f3 ofthe shaft f is arranged within the central opening d1, the opening`being of sufficient diameter to insure a free movement for the said diskdf The upper surface h is dished for a purpose hereinafter described,and is provided at its outer upper edge with a circumferential cut-outportion d* adapted to form a seat `for an upstanding flange or wallI e.Arranged within the said wall e, and above the dished disk d, is aspider j which comprises a hub a plurality of spaced and radially extening legs y, the connecting portions 7'3 of the legs at the hub beingcurved. The up er surface of the spider 1s formed fiat, and vthe undersurfaces of the legs are shaped to conform to the sha e of the disheddisk d, as is clearly shown y reference to fiirther comprises a disk dFig. 2 of the drawing. The spider is positively secured to the shaft byset screw z' which passes through the hub and into the reduced end f3 ofthe said shaft. Thus it 5 will be observed that the spider and thebearing disk are carried by and rotated by the shaft, and the disheddisk d, carrying the wall c, is loosely mounted with respect to the saidshaft. Resting on the up- ].0 per sur`ace of the disk Z and arrangedbetween the radially extending legs is a plurality of balls 7c, eachhaving a diameter slightly greater than the depth of the spider.

Arranged to lie upon the balls 7c, and withrin the circumferential walle, is a flat disk Z, @preferably made of steel, although other suitablematerial can be employed, if desired. Secured to this disk at itscenter, is

an upwardly extending rod m which eX- tends through the central openingt3 of the cover t. This shaft extends above the said cover for somedistance and is provided at its end with a rack-bar a. A sleeve g/ isarranged around the said shaft below the rack-bar and is integral withthe said cover t. This sleeve is providedvnear its lower Y end with alongitudinal slot p, and an additional sleeve is arranged over the lowerportion of the said sleeve, and is provided with a pin p1, adapted toengage the rod m, and operate in the said slot. The upper end of thesleeve y is provided with a shoulder y1. Below and bearing against thesaid shoulder is a plate 151, which is held in po-l sition by means ofan adjustable collar v and set-screw el. Seated upon the upper i edge ofthe small or outer sleeve c is a spring 0. This spring is preferablyformed as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing, and is formed of a flat pieceof spring metal shaped to -form a plurality of points. These points arecurved upwardly and are adapted to bear against the underside of theplate tl. y A. modified form of the spring is shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawing. The spring comprises a hub portion having a plurality ofradially extending projections 01, between each two of which, isarranged a plurality of similar projections 02 and o3 respectively ofdifferent lengths. It will thus be seen that while only three differentsets of projections are shown in this figure, more can be employedequally as well if desired.

Suitably connected to the top t is a plurality of brackets gy-Q adaptedto support a shaft r having a pinion g1 mounted thereon, and arranged ina position to coact with the said rack-bar n of the rod m. A spiralspring s has one end fixed to the shaft r and 50 the other end to the'plate t1. This spring is employed for a purpose hereinafter described.The shaft r is arranged at rightangles to the rod m 'and extends in acentral manner to the end a of the casing. The end a is provided with asuitable scale a1 and the 65 end of the shaft r is provided with apointer b. A suitable lubricator cup w is arranged on the top of thecasing c and is provided with a depending spout w1, the end of which isarranged directly above the rack-bar n in order that oil may be impartedto all the works in a very effective manner. A spring s1 is employed andhas one end secured to the shaft-supporting bracket by a screw or othersuitable means s, the other end adapted to frictionally engage a portionof the shaft 1 for a purpose hereinafter described.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the rotation ofthe shaft f carrying the spider will cause the balls to travel in anoutward and upward Vdirection. The outward movement of the balls overthe inclined or dishedsurface h ofthe l disk cl will elevate the disk Z,andtherack-g bar n which is carried by the rod m and elevated by thesaid disk Z, will rotate the pinion g1 on the shaft r and consequentlymove the pointer b. It will also be seen that the rod m and the outersleeve to which the spring 0 is attached, are prevented from ro- 90tating by the stud p1 which connects the two parts together and passesthrough the guideslot p in the inner sleeve y.

The spring o, against which the disk Z moves, must be so graduated as toallow for the variation of the centrifugal action at different speeds,so as to cause the pointer b to move uniformly on the scale. Should themodified form as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing be employed, the firsteffort of the 10 disk Z would depress the largest projection 01. As thespeed is increased, the disk is elevated by movement of t-he balls, andthe second series of projections o2 will be acted upon in a like manner,and then, when the l0 speed is increased still further, the' other orsmaller set of projections 03 will be likewise acted upon. It will alsobe observed that the disk d and the wall e thereof will not travel inaccordance with the spider j, l1 as there will be a certain play of thedisk d at different speeds, thus preventing the balls 7c from travelingin the same path, and there* by lengthening the life of said parts bylessening the wear in any one place. The coiled 11 spring s is moresensitive than the spring 0,

and therefore, slight movements are better indicated with its use, aswill be well under- Istood. The spring s1 which bears against` portionof the shaft a" tends to dampen any 1i unnecessary vibrations andprevents flickerings of the pointer.

That we claim is l. In a speed indicator, the combination with a casinghaving a pointer rotatably 1I mounted at ene side thereof, of a shaftaron its end with a dished disk, a spider carried by the shaft andarranged within the disk, a plurality of balls Acarried by the disk andspaced from each other by the spider, and means for rotating thepointer, said means having a part which is arranged to liest `on theballs and to be actuated by the outward and consequent upward movementof the said balls upon the rotation of the said shaft.

3. lIn a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointerrotatably mounted at one side thereof, and a closed receptacle arrangedwithin the other end, a shaft arranged to extend within the receptacleand provided at its end with a loosely mounted ball-carrying receptaclehaving an outwardly inclined upper surface, a spider carried by theshaft and arranged within the receptacle and between the balls andspacing the latter, and a disk resting upon and supported by the ballsand provided with means for actuating the pointer upon the rotation ofthe shaft and spider and the consequent rotation of the said balls.

4. In a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointerrotatably mounted at one side thereof and a closed receptacle at anotherside, of a shaft arranged to extend within the said receptacle andprovided at its end with a ball-carrying and rotating means including anoutwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, a shaft for the pointerprovided with a pinion, and a disk adapted to lie on the balls andhaving a rod provided with a rack-bar adapted to engage the said pinion,and thereby rotate the pointer upon the outward and upward movement ofthe balls when the irst-men tioned shaft is rotated.

5. In a speed. indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointerrotatably mounted at one side thereof, Vof a shaft arranged within theeasing, a receptacle loosely mounted on the shaft and comprising abearing disk having an outwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, aspider arranged within the receptacle and fixed to the shaft, aplurality of balls arranged within the receptacle and spaced apart bythe spider. another disk arranged at the top of the receptacle andindependent of the shaft, and means for rotating the pointer` said meansbeing connected to the last-mentioned disk which rests upon the balls,and said ineaus heilig adapted to be actuated by the outward andconsequent upward movement of the balls upon the rotation of the saidshaft.

In a speed indicator, the Combination with a casing haviuga pointerrotatably mounted at one side thereof, and a closed re ceptaele arrangedwithin the casing at another side, of a shaft arranged to extend withinthe said receptacle and provided at its end with a loosely mountedballecarrtving disk having an outwardly and upwardly inclined uppersurface, a shaft adapted to ro tate the pointer and provided with apinion, an inner sleeve arranged on the closed receptacle and below thepinion and provided with a slot in one end thereof, a plate rigidlysecured around the said slecv. at one end, and an outer sleeve arrangedon the other end thereof and provided with a pin adapted to pass throughand beyond the slot of the inner sleeve, a spring supported by the outersleeve and adapted to bear against the said plate, a disk arrangedwithin the receptacle and adapted to rest upon the balls, a rod extending from the disk and within the said inner sleeve, said rod beingfixed to the outer sleeve by the said pin, a rackbar extending beyondthe end of the inner sleeve and adapted to engage the pinion, theoutward and consequent upward movement of 'the balls upon the rotationof the shaft being adapted to elevate the disk and rack-bar against thespring and thereby rotate the pointer-carrying shaft.

7. In a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointerrotatably mounted at one side thereof, and a cap arranged at anotherside, said cap having an outstanding sleeve, of a shaft having a reduced inner end arranged within the said sleeve and extending within thecasing beyond the cap, a bearing disk loosely mounted on the reduced endof the shaft and having V an outwardly and upwardly` inclined uppersurface, a spider arranged above the disk and carried by the shaft,`said spider comprising a hub portion having a plurality of radiallyextending legs, a plurality of balls arranged on the said dist andspaced apart by the legs of the spider, a cover for the said caparranged within the casino', a second sha ft adapted to rotate thepointer and provided with a pinion, a sleeve arranged ou the cover andbelow the pinion and provided with a longitudinal slot, a plate rigidlysecured around the sleeve at one end, an outer sleeve arranged on theother end thereof and provided with a pin adapted to pass through andbeyond the slot of the inner sleeve, aspring supported by the outersleeve and adapted to bear against the said plate, a

second disk arranged Within thereceptacle disk and rack-bar against thesnring and and adapted to rest upon tlie balls7 a rod exthereby krotatethe pointer-carrying shaft.

tending from the said disk and arranged In testimony, that We claim theforegoing within the said inner sleeve, said rod being as our invention,We have signed our names 5 fixed to the outer sleeve by the said pin, ain presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

rack-bar extending beyond the end of the CHARLES SPRATT. inner sleeveand adapted to engage the pinn FRANCIS JAMES SHENTON. ion, whereby anoutward and consequent up- Witnesses: ward movement of the balls uponthe rota- J. S. WITHERS, lo tion of the shaft is adapted to elevate theW.' CHOWLES.

